West Brom seal Arsenal Carlos Vela loan deal

Saturday 29th January 2011, 11:46AM GMT.

West Brom seal Arsenal Carlos Vela loan deal

Albion were today celebrating a major transfer coup after completing a late-night raid on Arsenal for Carlos Vela.

The Baggies have signed the 21-year-old Mexico international on loan for the rest of the season, beating off competition from Premier League rival Bolton and Spanish club Valencia.

Boss Roberto Di Matteo said: “Carlos is an exciting signing for this club. Carlos is a new attacking option for us who can play both centrally and in the wide areas.

“He also has great technical ability and pace and we’re hoping he can make a big impact during the remainder of the season.

“There’s no doubt Carlos has the potential to become a great player and it will hopefully be a win-win situation, where we help him by giving him game time while he helps us achieve our goal.

“Having said all that, we have to remember he is still a young boy learning his trade and we will be giving him all the support he needs during his time here.”

Bolton had been seen as favourites to sign Vela after his Gunners team-mate Jack Wilshere enjoyed a productive loan spell at the Reebok Stadium last season.

But the Baggies convinced the player and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger that he would gain more match action at The Hawthorns. He has been given the No.18 shirt.

The 5ft 10in forward, who played in last summer’s World Cup for Mexico, has started three games for Arsenal this season and netted three times – twice against Braga in the Champions League.

He has scored nine times in 33 senior games for Mexico but is currently serving a six-month ban for his role in a late-night party after a friendly win over Columbia.

He will not be eligible to face his parent club when they visit Albion on March 19.

As Vela checked in at The Hawthorns, Reuben Reid ended his unhappy Baggies spell by joining Oldham on a permanent deal for a nominal fee.


  1. 1
    slippy

    good signing, a much better bet than carew. this will be a big lift to the players as well. if we could get a defender in now mat mills hopefully then i think we should get the 4 wins? we need.

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  2. 2
    CantelloRocket 78

    We don’t know yet if this lad will make much impact,but having watched him on You Tube,there’s no doubt he’s got bags of natural ability.One thing that’s annoyed me in the past is the number of times Albion players have tried to side-foot the ball passed ‘keepers in one on one situations,when there’s the option of chipping the ball over their head.Watch Vela do it on You Tube-he virtually walks up to the goalkeeper and lifts the ball over his head with amazing ease.The kid oozes sheer class.I’m getting excited.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    throstleman

    At last and good news! We still need another proven striker and a right back. Hopefully this will then shake up and refresh the lads for challenge that lies ahead.
    Come on u baggies

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    CantelloRocket 78

    I don’t know how much interest there is in the Brazilian Ewerthon,but if we do want another striker,he also looks to have plenty of natural ability.
    Again,I watched clips of him on You Tube,and he looked impressive,nutmegging players in that distinctive Brazillian style,and scoring with both feet and head in a very confident manner.
    He seems to be a free agent,and the press claim Albion are interested,so here’s hoping.Two quality South American Strikers? Yes,please-bring it on.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Rich5wolves

    Contgratulations on this signing. At least your club has some ambition.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    sid

    time for a 4-4-2, 2 upfront bags of pace , come on albion

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Silver

    Sorry. Won’t fit in. This is Jay Simpson 2.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    JACK the HAT.

    4-4-2, clubs wont be too eager to pile players forward, with these young guns roaming in there half. That goes for all our youngsters. Go get ‘em, lads.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Steven B

    6, Sid,

    I am sorry to disappoint you, Albion will not start a PL game this season as a FLAT 4-4-2.

    Not the way they play, not the way they intend to either.

    Good signing is Vela, he more than likely will not be the last either.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    BrierleyHillBaggie

    Welcome Carlos let’s hope your stay is a happy one.
    Patience, last minute shopping sometimes pays off.
    With this Torres thing no one knows what is going to happen.
    Maybe somewhere along the line we may get someone else yet.
    The transfer fun may soon unfold.
    If Torres stays maybe Liverpool would offload Ngog on loan,what we wanted pre-season,if he goes maybe Chelsea loan a forward out.
    Just a thought.

    BAGGIESBAGGIESBAGGIES

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    alex baggie

    Well done RDM and the board for getting him in. Another sign of progress. I just hope that he has the stomach for the fight. Hattrick against Wigan – yeh why not!

    Da da da da, Carlos Ve-la.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    CantelloRocket 78

    5 Rich5Wolves- thanks for the friendly,positive words.Unfortunately,most of your fellow ‘fans’ that visit here just show signs of bitterness and jealousy,by making up pretty nasty posts,and they seem incapable of giving any kind of praise.It’s nice to know that some of you are fair-minded and more genuine football supporters.I hope there are many more like yourself over at the Molineux.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    JonnyT

    As an Arsenal fan I assure you you`re gooner love this chappy. In most Arsenals fans eyes he`s far better than Bentner. The guy is class, fast as anything and a great finisher. Because we are top heavy and to be fair scoring goals he doesn`t get much chance but he`s a crowd favourite and will be a regular for us one day.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    AMS

    JonnyT Thanks. We hope he’s a favourite too. What pleases me is that he will get at least two training sessions in with the others before he gets to play. That’s good because our game on Tuesday is massive. It also potentially gives us some more time to bring another one or even two in.
    As I said yesterday JP usually has a trick or two up his sleeve. Whether or not there are any more in this week or what matters is that we secure 3 points by 10pm on Tuesday night!
    With a bit of luck Insomnia (Sorry – N’zogbia couldn’t resist that old one) will leave Wigan by Monday too. He’s looked pretty dangerous this season for them.

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    kev in mallorca

    Warren,TRBH,Cantello,Cyril and New Max etc
    How about SILVER! unbelievable or what?
    You just couldn’t make it up,unless he’s a dingle,made me chuckle.
    Adeu

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    JACK the HAT.

    (7)
    Silver,
    Does your nom de guerre come between ” Hi-Ho and lining?.

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    1954 baggie

    Exciting times thought he was a cert for Bolton maybe hes heard about the west brom nightlife (he does like to party)wouldnt it be
    great if RDM played the two together better
    option than Carew did think we,d get nobody
    another defender woud be nice.

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    CantelloRocket 78

    7 Silver-

    A couple of Arsenal fans have already said he’s a great lad,with bags of talent,and a star of the future,with other clubs chasing him.I’d be very surprised if a genuine Albion fan dissed him before he’s even played for us.
    Are you a negative Gooner,or a jealous dingle?

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    JACK the HAT.

    To all the doubting fans, the ” Won’t sign, never will, small club, ones, on the ALBION ENTER RACE FOR CARLOS VELLA, blog. One piece of advice, guys,
    **** never say never ****.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    Happy_baggie

    This lad can score with both feet – unlike wolves who only tackle that way !!!!!

    Seriously – he will fit right in without a huge change of style for the rest of the team – gives RDM options if P.O is having an off day…. but wouldn’t be suprised to see vela come in place of Morrison and go out wide with P.O through the middle and JT on the right..

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    CantelloRocket 78

    15 Kev-

    Get over here,as quick as you can.We’re now having so many Spanish speaking players,we need a translator so that we know what they’re going to be saying to the many brilliant Refs that we’re getting this season.I know you’ve picked up ‘hola’ and ‘adieu’,but we will need someone who can understand all the Spanish swear words that’s gonna be aimed at the Officials.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    Cyril Randle

    THAT Silver was a horse of high pedigree. This one might be Eeyore of Winnie the Pooh smell, oops fame.
    Rich5. Don’t give up mate, there will be 3 ‘W’s go down this year, West Chelsea, West Liverpool and West Man.Utd. Wolves, West Brom, Western Villa and Blues will be OK.
    JohnnyT. Cheers mate, we’ll look after him and next season too if you like.

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    pip

    worth a shot,but he aint going to shore up the worst defence in the Prem.

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    Acka

    No12. Kettle and pot come to mind regarding your last comments.

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    sid

    sb-9, it was just a thought, i think we rely on odemwingie up on his own too much, when thomas drives down the wing and crosses 9 times out of 10, he only has odemwingie to aim for, so with 2 up front and tchoyi on the right a holding midfielder, others can push up and attack, surely more goals, come on you baggies

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    BAGGIEBAL66

    He can play on the wings and in the middle so my arsenal budy told me, very fast so 4.3.3 not 4.4.2. looks like we will have to score more goals unless we sort out the the back 4. Back to the ossie ardiles days?

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    kev in mallorca

    Sid
    Tchyoi as a holding midfielder! what yo bin smokin’.

    Cantello.
    I’ll have a word with my Spanish teacher,I’ve been supplying her with new laid eggs from my chickens and according to my fellow students I’m teacher pet.
    I know one or two in English I’d like to call Silver but it wouldn’t get through.
    Hope you all have a nice night on Tuesday.
    Adeu.

    Report abuse

  28. 28
    CantelloRocket 78

    24 acka-

    After my comments,I wondered how long it would be before the usual bunch came over here,with sarcastic put-downs and no sign of any praise.It didn’t take that long,did it? Well done,for proving my point.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    CantelloRocket 78

    23-pip

    good to know you’re as excited as the rest of us about signing this highly rated player.It sounds like you’re having a bad weekend-found a quid and lost a tenner have we?

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    CantelloRocket 78

    This constant droning and whinging about our defence-yes,we need to tighten up,but the way Albion play,we’ll always leave ourselves more open at the back.
    I said the other week,when I first watched the Baggies in the mid 60′s as a young lad,we played a similar way,open and attacking football.And we scored a lot of goals,but also conceded a lot.That’s how it is.Teams like Man U. and Arsenal get away with it because they can afford to have bags of quality in midfield and up front.In the week,United went 0-2 down to Blackpool,but won 3-2 because Berbatov and Hernandez only need a split second,and the ball’s in the net.
    So what shall we do-keep playing our natural style,and work at bringing more talent into the squad,or focus on not conceding goals,bring everyone back,and become good at ‘parking the bus’? You decide.

    Report abuse

  31. 31
    Happy_baggie

    Re our style of play and goals against tally – don’t forget we were relegated twice under Megson & he was a big fan of playing defensive football…. so I’m sticking with RDM cos at least our football now is worth watching (thats not a dig at Sir Gary – just my opinion on football styles).

    Report abuse

  32. 32
    codger

    Let us hope he can perform the Mexican Hat trick dance.

    Report abuse

  33. 33
    sid

    27 kev in mallorca- i didnt write it to well, what i meant was tchoyi on the right , thomas left and with a holding midfielder who could spread it left and right, ps only smoking lambert and butler

    Report abuse

  34. 34
    JACK the HAT.

    Watched the Manchester Utd V Southhampton cup match. Liked Southhamton right back BUTTERFIELD. Especially in the second half against Giggs and Nani. Just the player we could use.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    27 hi Kev, i used to be teachers pet at school untill one day she said to me,Sir Terry why dont you bring me a bag of currants anymore,i said cuz my rabbits died miss,aye boing boing

    Report abuse

  36. 36
    Desmond baggie boy in Canada

    Welcome Carlos,

    I hope you enjoy it with us and play with a smile on your face, also that we don’t expect to much for your young shoulders. I can see our formation now, with Carlos sitting behind Peter in front of a midfield of four!

    Great signing and hopefully one more as well.

    Boing boing

    Report abuse

  37. 37
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    2 CR78.
    What an excellent post. Start off slightly downbeat and build up to an optimistic crescendo. A bit Bolero and an example for us all.

    Report abuse

  38. 38
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    7.
    And one for the older viewers.
    “Hi Ho Silver, go away.”
    Especially Cyril who I bet is another lover of The Lone Ranger music. Although I’m sure he doesn’t call it that.

    Report abuse

  39. 39
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    30 CR78.
    I agreed with you on this one last time you brought it up. The ‘you score three and we’ll have a go at getting four’ attitude.

    Just come on to add to your point about Man Ure and Arsenal. It also helps if you can get away with being the last player and bring down the attacker without worrying about a red card (PO by the Arsenal keeper) or a penalty or a red card (GD against Utd or the other night Varney for Blackpool against Utd} yet we have Pablo sent off(probably not even a foul and two covering players) and Tamas v Blackburn (out on the touchline, not a dangerous tackle and a covering player in place.}

    Sorry one and all, couldn’t resist it. I won’t mention refs again as this is a joyous thread.

    Report abuse

  40. 40
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    9 Steven B.
    Are RDM using a nom de plume. How do you know what the manager intends to do? As it happens I agree with you on the point but like you this is my view not a stone cold fact. You’re very dismissive of sid who has come on here being positive.

    Report abuse

  41. 41
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    31 Happy.
    I agree. It’s a bit like the old cavalier Ossie Ardiles style. I don’t think the success would have continued if Ossie had stayed but wasn’t it a lot of fun while it lasted?

    Report abuse

  42. 42
    Cyril Randle

    No.30 CR78. You forgot to mention that Blackpool might have been 3-0 up had the ref given what looked like a nailed-on penalty to Blackpool. Déja vu for the Hawthorns recently?
    Our defence has to manage without the ref’s help.

    Report abuse

  43. 43
    Hitchin Baggie

    This is a great signing for us – I am stuck down here surrounded by Arsenal fans – they all say he’s better than Bentner and wish Wenger would give him his chance !! Just take a look at the goals he has scored for the Gunners and you will see a lad with serious ability. I’m not having a go at St.Peter but if Vela gets the ammount of one on one chances that he’s had so far this season we will be more than OK. Come on you Baggies !!

    Report abuse

  44. 44
    CantelloRocket 78

    I hadn’t realised,but this Brazilian Ewerthon can be signed outside the transfer window,because he’s a free agent.He’s got plenty of experience in Europe,and looks a quality player,but his agent claims other prem. clubs are interested.Which is exactly what you would expect his agent to say.We’ll have to wait and see.

    Report abuse

  45. 45
    baggie birder

    Great coup for us lets hope he will have the same effect as Kieron Richardson did .Im sure this is the lift the team needed

    Report abuse

  46. 46
    baggieinmanc

    Welcome to the Hawthorns Carlos. I wish you all the best. I hope I was wrong with regard to my lengthy post on another stream. Vela is here, there are a lot of fans who are very happy about it. Arsenal fans are split on this lad. Some think he is great and a future No. 9 and some think that he is ineffective.

    Either way he hasn’t kicked a ball for us yet and the yays far outweigh the neys. Talented lad who can finish one on one’s (which we have a problem doing) and other clubs were interested so I’m on board despite my original fears.

    If there is a chance we could get Ewerthon and Bruma also, then our business i this window will have been second to none.

    Boing Boing

    Report abuse

  47. 47
    1954 baggie

    HEshould fit in nicely just hope RDM plays him
    and Odemwinge together. lets hope our lads are
    really up for tuesday Wigan have a threat with
    Moses and Nzogbia just hope our defenders
    concentrate they Blues and Villa still involved in cup West Ham buying for survival
    just love them to go down owners deserve it
    the 25 squad rule does that include players
    out on loan?

    Report abuse

  48. 48
    1973 Baggie

    20, I wish you wouldn’t make comments like that. We have the worst diciplinary record in the league, we play the most long-ball only behind Stoke and Blackburn. We are not this fantastic footballing side and if you would of been to games regularly you would know this. We are fighting for our lives.

    Vela could be an excellent signing but I bet he is played wide and Brunt is brought back into the centre for our 4-5-1. I would prefer to see us go 4-4-2 but RDM is quite stubborn in this respect.

    Report abuse

  49. 49
    1973 Baggie

    We need two centre backs a right back pls RDM

    Report abuse

  50. 50
    O B Wan

    Good signing but its fight over flare for me given our position in the table.

    I hope he’s up for the challenge of keeping us up.

    Boing boing

    Report abuse

  51. 51
    Warren

    1973

    Mid-life crisis setting in? Cheer up, Wolves wouldn’t have won the FA Cup anyway, you can concentrate on trying not to finish bottom now.

    Report abuse

  52. 52
    1973 Baggie

    51. I hope I am not at ‘mid-life’ yet and I am definately not a Wolves fan.

    If you actually went to games you would realise we do not play the ‘Mowbray style’ any longer and we havent done so for about 15 games, I am a season ticket holder and trust me most of the time it’s not pretty! If you look at the stats also we do have the worst disciplinary record and we play the 3rd most long-ball, I love our club but we are what we are.

    I think if RDM is adament on playing 4-5-1 start with Vela and bring on St.Peter as an impact player?

    Report abuse

  53. 53
    Warren

    1973

    I do go to the games. I actually agree we don’t play identically to what we did under Mowbray but personally I don’t think that’s a bad thing as we struggle when we slow the game down and allow teams to get men behind the ball.

    I also don’t think it means we play identically to Blackburn and Stoke, there is a significant area between those two ends of the spectrum and we probably mix it up a bit better than we did and certainly moreso than the aforementioned. Whether we always play the right ball is debatable but RDM’s system got us a record points haul last year and our best ever in the Premiership so far this year, so something must be right???

    It’s not like it’s abhorrent to watch, we do play some good football when we get it down. Would you prefer to see us play like West Ham or Wolves?

    Re: Vela, has he the attributes to play alone in a 4-5-1? I suspect we might see him start on the bench.

    Report abuse

  54. 54
    Warren

    P.S. It’s been a lot longer than 15 games, I remember going to Scunthorpe over Christmas last year and bemoaning the number of high balls to our giant front pairing of Cox and Moore. It just comes down to the timing of them I think, but you can’t argue that’s the only ball we play.

    Report abuse

  55. 55
    1973 Baggie

    I am not saying we only play the long-ball but I have recently been sick of us lumping up to St.Peter who is not good in the air. We have 1 win in 9 games and these tactics have been applied in every game. Our win came courtesy of a very fortunate win V Blackpool where it could of gone either way.

    Do we play better football than Wolves or West Ham? I think Wolves have got more plaudits for the way they play although they are below us in the table. We had a great result at The Emirates and Old Trafford but our circumstances are very similar to Hull and Burnley who also had a few shock results earlier on in the season but ran out of ideas as the season went on, teams have worked us out and our disciplinary record would suggest the players are frustrated.

    RDM is a likeable fellow but just recently his lack of Managerial experience has started to tell. Change formation if needed, make substitutions sooner and sign at least two defenders today!

    Report abuse

  56. 56
    Warren

    How many of those 9 games have we failed to create any chances? Fulham maybe? Even our ‘flat’ performance at Blackburn yielded 20 shots on target. Is style of fooball the main problem??

    I agree that the players sometimes need to be more intelligent with their choice of pass e.g. as you say, lumping it in the air to Odemwingie when he’s isolated but this was the same last year and we came good. If nothing else RDM deserves a chance to rectify it. I don’t think ripping everything up and starting again (i.e. panicing) is the answer, 6 weeks ago we were pushing top 6. A bit of tweeking maybe or freshness, we haven’t suddenly become a poor side.

    Do you think signing a conveyor belt of defenders is the answer or is it more to do with how we play (i.e. high up the pitch) and organisational things that can be sorted out on the training ground? We didn’t concede a headed goal until Oct/Nov, it can be done.

    Re: Wolves, I think you’re kidding yourself or focusing on negatives. I think if you ask most neutrals who plays more attractive football, they’d say Albion. Wolves have started games this season with 7 defenders in their line-up. Hull and Burnley….Blackpool maybe? But deep down you know we’ve better players than any of those. Time to prove it maybe, but have some faith.

    Report abuse

  57. 57
    Cyril Randle

    Sir Tez, 35. That’s got to be the same teacher I had. I took her miniature licorice whirls until my budgie died.

    Report abuse

  58. 58
    astleistheking

    Our strike force is gonna rip the dingles defence apart, I really cannot wait now!

    Report abuse

  59. 59
    CantelloRocket 78

    56 Warren-

    you’re completely wasting your time with this idiot.I only read a few words of his first post to realise it was ‘i’mnotlaughingmuchthesedayswolf’.
    I saw at least half a dozen obvious clues straight away that made it clear.For one thing,he’s the only one who keeps saying ‘we are the third highest to play the long ball blah,blah blah’.He keeps repeating the same thing like a yellow and black parrot.At least he’s started to cut down the amount of times he says ‘wolves injuries’.What a plonker.

    Report abuse

  60. 60
    CantelloRocket 78

    ‘laughingstock’-

    if the best thing you can do with your time is have long conversations on the Baggie site,pretending to be someone else,you have a very sad life.I suppose you just want some fun now wolves have only got relegation to look forward to.Shame.

    Report abuse

  61. 61
    baggiealfie

    no ambition club, when will Peace learn, Blackpool 4 signings, wba 1, all jan and 1 player ? hammers sign keane, were all doomed captain moneyman

    Report abuse



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